is there a REAL difference in quality between backups?

[smittymike19]

I want to know if there is a REAL difference between backup quality using the various techniques. I am currently using ic7 to backup my dvds. Viewing them on my 36" toshiba (not flat screen or hdtv), I see no difference between this and dvd squeeze and wondering why i am wasting all my time with ic7 (why not just use dvd squeeze?). Am I kidding myself or when I eventually upgrade to a HDTV will I be angry that I used DVD squeeze to back up my stuff? What is the difference when viewing them on HDTV as there really seems to be none on my regular tv. Has anyone burned the same dvd using the various programs and compared on their hDTV? thanks.

[drewson99]

take an original and a copy to Circuit City or Best Buy and play them, take a look. if you are pleased then keep doin' it the easy way.

you can't really ask that kind of question here (vcdhelp.com) without getting mountians of conjecture and causing hostility between certain camps.

it is simply a matter of opinion, personal preference, and eyesight.

[MackemX]

(why not just use dvd squeeze

I hope you didn't buy DVDSqueeze



why it's a rip off

[Bob W]

DVDSqueeze? Never heard of that one. I stopped using IC7 a long time ago, it's just too slow for me. Lately I have been using DVDX Copy Xpress, DVD2one, or DVD95.

[Faustus]

Is there a difference? Yes, however there is a large percentage of people who either do not care, or cannot see the difference. Not that either one is a bad thing, if you do line ups between the different softwares using parts of movies that are a tough encode already (IE. lots of onscreen action, dark backgrounds and such) then look closely you'll see it. Also you notice a difference in the very fine details on close ups.

All in all as noted in the common questions and answers posted up above each has their own ups and down. Personally I just purchased a copy of IC7 and I'm looking forward to playing with it more, its output seems to be a good mix of speed and quality.

BTW to anyone who has updated IC7 already, was there a speed increase like they said?

[MackemX]

BTW to anyone who has updated IC7 already, was there a speed increase like they said?

yes there is a big difference to the last update

the last update slowed right down compared to before, going sub 1.0MB/s but the new one goes 2.0MB/s plus now on my system

so it's definetely faster but at what cost?

I hope it ain't quality

I'm gonna have to do a test just to find out

cos I want quality from minimal user input not faster processing speed due to loss of even more quality

[icemanatvcd]

smittymike19, here are the answers to your questions:

I want to know if there is a REAL difference between backup quality using the various techniques

Yes. There is a huge a difference. There is a group one and group two apps, if you like

Group 1 - DVD2One, DVDShrink, DVD95

Group 2 - DVD2-R, IC7 and like.

Group two are true transcoders. Group one basically compress the files to fit on one DVD-R. Group two will give you much better result, require more patience and time. Group one will suffer from quality. A godd test is to view the movies with lights turned off, on a good Display Unit.

Am I kidding myself or when I eventually upgrade to a HDTV will I be angry that I used DVD squeeze to back up my stuff?

Yes, HDTV will show the difference a bit more easily. Don't waste your money and time using file compressors use transcoders. I have tested them on HDTV, you will be sorry.

My advice is leave DVD2-R or IC7 when you go to bed. When you are up in the morning the files are ready to burn with a much better quality. Do movie only files.

Read the MackemX'a advice,

"In the end it's a matter of individual perception and the level of quality delivered by the playback system"

[smittymike19]

first off i meant DVD shrink not dvd squeeze. Second thanks for the advice. I will keep using IC7. The new update seems to have sped up the process. Im not quite sure if there is a quality loss as I have not viewed the end product. When you say to do the main movie only, using only instant copy 7, dvd decrypter and dvd shrink is there a way to do that? I have seen the guides for ifo edit and they seem too time consuming. Dvd squeeze has a nice interface to select main movie only but I want to encode with ic7 if the main movie is still too large.thanks

[drewson99]

Group one basically compress the files to fit on one DVD-R. Group two will give you much better result, require more patience and time.

but if the files need to be (and are) compliant in the end, isn't a (to use your terminology) "compressed" vob or mpeg2 thus *transcoded*?

tell me what the difference is, because as far as I knew, if it wasn't *encoded* to be made smaller, it is "compressed", or *transcoded*

anyone?

Andy

[Triple_Helix]

When you say to do the main movie only, using only instant copy 7, dvd decrypter and dvd shrink is there a way to do that?

The fastest and easiest way to get to IC with movie-only files and whatever streams (subs and audio) you want, is to use use DVDShrink to rip and strip with no compression. The video files are untouched leaving them to IC. And, its faster and simpler than the method you mentioned.

LTA

[icemanatvcd]

Sorry for my terminology drewson99, what I was trying to say was that DVD2One takes bits out from every frame of the movie to bring the size down to fit on one DVD-R. Whereas the group two method actually scans the video to see which scenes needs more bits such as action scenes and which scenes require less bits.

smittymike19, you could also use DVDToolbox, it is very easy to use and you can strip out all the crap and may be able to fit the movie on one DVD-R without encoding. However new movies seem to be too large to fit on one DVD-R so you will need to use either IC7 or DVD-R for good results. The difference between the two method is minimal (DVD2-R being marginally better). Both these methods will give you much better results than DVD2One or DVDShrink.

[smittymike19]

thanks for all of the great comments. I think i'm going to use the dvd shrink to rip and cut the movie. I can't stand waiting for all of the garbage before the dvd starts so with dvd shrink i can create the dvd so that as soon as i put in the dvd it starts with the movie (not 2 trailers and 3 movie logos). but ic7 seems to be grossly undersizing these files after i run it through dvd shrink (not when i do a full disk copy directly in ic7). i have another post addressing this problem. Ill let u know how i make out.

[BlizzofOZ]

smittymike19,

Per Mrbass, I tried DVDToolBox to "extract" the main movie from a fully ripped DVD. I have used it a few times, all with success.

Give it a try... really easy to use!

[txpharoah]

For the most part, DVDshrink and DVD2one output is fine. Only if you REALLY compress the snot out of it does it look bad. At that point either try a real re-encode or span to two discs.